At approximately 8:52 Monday night, area fire companies were alerted to a structure fire at the Grand Central Business Center, which is said to have been caused by cigarette ashes igniting trash in a bathroom on the third floor of the building.
With Keyser, New Creek, and McCoole Volunteer Fire Departments responding to the scene, firefighters were initially hampered in locating the source of the fire due to smoke pulling through the HVAC system of the building, according to Keyser Assistant Fire Chief Mike Simpson.
“Smoke was throughout the building due to it going into the HVAC system,” said Simpson.
An estimated $18,000 of damage of smoke and water damage was caused to the apartment, with the fire being contained to the bathroom.
In addition, some water damage also affected the second floor Potomac State College Enrollment Services office.
“We were out for about an hour and a half and had 26 firefighters on the scene,” said Simpson.